EVALUATION DETAILS

Slim Blast Evaluation

The Slim Blast curing light is extremely lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to handle and readily accessible,” said a Staten Island, NY, dentist who evaluated the light for Dental Product Shopper. He continued, “The intensity of the light was a lot stronger than my current light, which makes me confident that whatever I'm curing [will be] 100% set and cured." Thirteen dentists evaluated the Slim Blast LED curing light and rated several important features of the product.

Ergonomics and Ease of Use

Manufacturer Description: Both lightweight and ergo-nomic in its design, the wand-shaped Slim Blast was de-signed to be 41% lighter, 26% thinner, and 7% shorter than First Medica’s Mini Blast curing light. With a remov-able glass tip, no sleeve is required, allowing for an unob-structed work area.Evaluator Feedback: “Ergonomics were excellent. The weight made it easy to use. The size was perfect for my grip,” noted a Vista, CA, dentist. When asked what they liked best about the Slim Blast, several evaluators men-tioned ergonomics and ease of use. “[I liked] the weight and ease of use,” “[I like that it’s] small, lightweight, with easy maneuverability,” and “The light base is small so it takes very little counter space” were a few of the comments from evaluators.Some recommendations for improvement were, “The orange light filter is a bit awkward and does get in the way depending on the tooth being worked on" and "The light shield was a bit cumbersome."It is "easy to find the on button and curve of the tip is right for positioning," reported a dentist from Iowa who rated both ergonomics and ease of use as very good. An-other evaluator related, “The size and shape make it very easy to use, even on small children. [The] distal of maxil-lary molars can be accessed easier than many other lights.”

Speed and Depth of Cure

Manufacturer Description: With a long-lasting lithium-ion battery, the Slim Blast can handle 700 x 5-second cures with a power output of >1000 mW/cm². The timer can be set for intervals of 5, 10, and 20 seconds, and the light beeps when it’s turned on, every 5 seconds when it’s in use, and then once when it’s turned off. Evaluator feedback: “The intensity of the light was a lot stronger than my current light,” reported an evaluator with over 20 years of experience. Another dentist said “[It]...cures much faster than I expected,” while another evaluator commented, “The curing area is smaller [than my current light].” An Illinois dentist said, “The curing depth at 10 seconds does as good of a job as a light three times the price.”Several evaluators commented that the beep was too loud, and one reported, “It needs to be quieter and of a more pleasant frequency.” Regarding battery power, an evaluator reported, “The battery does an excellent job of holding its charge.

Durability and Ease of Disinfection

Manufacturer description:The high-quality Slim Blast light is durable, yet af-fordable, and comes with a 2-year war-ranty. It includes an autoclavable 8 mm tip, and the metal case is easy to clean.Evaluator feedback: When asked what he liked best about the Slim Blast, a Geor-gia dentist, who rated durability as excel-lent, reported, “It feels solid and durable.” Another evaluator stated, “As much as I love the fact that it’s lightweight it is equally a concern that it may be too deli-cate and fragile.” An Alabama dentist said, “[I] would like it if it was stronger and had more durable buttons.” Regarding ease of disinfection, a Fairlawn, NJ, evaluator liked best that the light is “easy to clean,” and another said, “The entire unit (minus the space between the buttons) is easy to clean and looks good.”Overall Satisfaction:

“I was impressed by the quality of the light” and would like to see “different tip sizes,” shared a dentist who rated her overall satisfaction as excellent. A dentist in practice for 30 years, who would definitely purchase and definitely recommend this light, concluded, "This light worked just like my [competitor's curing light] at a much better price point."